quiet paws.

This is just quite simply a breathtaking piece of art. 

Stella McCartney’s stunning chandelier made with over 8,000 Swarovski crystals – ‘Lucky Spot’ has returned to Belsay Castle.

The huge leaping horse first made its appearance in 2004 as part of a contemporary art exhibition ‘Fashion at Belsay’.  Apparently the three-metre high chandelier proved to be so popular, that Lucky Spot has been restored to its original glory.

This must be an amazing installation to view in-person, but in lieu of that the photos seem to capture some of the intended ambience of the piece and give an idea of its spectacular presence. While Stella McCartney is clearly a gifted fashion designer, I love how (like any creative person) her creativity can’t be contained to one field, it spills over into all other parts of life.

I’ve long been under the impression that horses are quite friendly creatures. They are animals that possess that rarest of abilities to completely connect with their surroundings…down through their hooves they mix with the spirit of the earth…and rising up through their wiry hair and pointed ears they commune with the elements of the sky.

Horses are most often observed during our journeys through the countryside, but they can even be found in the busiest of cities. Wherever we travel, the landscape zooms past our view at a dizzying speed, and so horses always draw the attention of the eye with their peaceful, stable presence. They are a calm and solid anchor to cling to.

They stand in deceptively silent conversation between themselves and the world, no doubt discussing the news of the day, sharing carefully rendered poems which sing the praises of natural wonders, and philosophising on the meaning of their existence and their place amongst the broad brushstrokes of life’s living picture. Such mystical things we humans are not privy to the detail of.

There is much time for self reflection and deep thought in the life of a horse. Rarely hurried in their movement, unless they are running into the wind for the pure pleasure of feeling the sunlight dance past their ears or stretching their muscles against the friction of the air, horses are well versed in the art of deliberate living. When their fundamental needs are taken care of – water, food, and shelter, horses want for little else in their lives.

Humans have enjoyed a rich and varied history with horses, from their use and abuse to the ultimate heights of care and respect. Horses understand the intense pull of emotion and share with humans the feelings of love, pain, happiness and sorrow. They know what it is to gain and perhaps more importantly, how it feels to lose. Like a nod to a friend who passes us in the street, these connections between species should be acknowledged and never forgotten. But how is this to be done?

For those of us not gifted in the subtle art of horse communication, there are other ways of getting under their skin and into their heads, where we can celebrate this shared understanding between human and horse. While the intent behind such communications is complex and draws back to the very start of all things on earth, the act itself is of the very simplest form. All that it consists of is a simple wave of the hand as you pass by any horses you spy in the distance. Of course it is impossible for the horse to respond to your wave in kind, but don’t be mistaken, they most definitely notice and humbly respect the gesture.

At first you may feel a little strange waving at an animal that can’t wave back, but this is something that gets easier with practice. Aside from maintaining the ancient bonds between human and horse, your wave will energise your day and bring a certain sparkle to your soul…trust me on this. Please note however that engaging in waving is a highly addictive activity and before too long you may find yourself interacting in such a way with all manner of living things…trees included.

It may appear from the outside that horses are held captive by the human species, but this could not be further from the truth. They are merely visitors who walk in our midst for a while as they work at unlocking the mysterious secrets of our universe. Their presence amongst us should be cherished for however long it is they choose to stay.

Much like the dolphins of Douglas Adams’ hitchhiking world, horses know that they are not destined to stay here forever. They merely play at being beasts of service until that magical day when they speed off to some distant star in the sky.

As we stand staring dumbfounded at their otherworldly flight, they will disappear from view so quickly that we may almost forget what it is that we have witnessed. When this day comes they will remember each greeting that you offered, sending you their eternal thanks by watching over you with their calm and steady gaze from whatever distant place they will then call home.

The shark tooth necklace has long been espoused as a symbol of male strength, potency and a proud display of masculinity. Such necklaces first came to prominence during the 1970’s, a time often remembered for brave and often unsuccessful fashion choices. I’m thinking someone along the lines of Tom Selleck would have been a wearer of the shark tooth necklace back in the day, in all his hairy-chested, full mustache glory. Aside from the appeal that shark tooth necklaces have always held in surfer culture, the shark tooth necklace is currently enjoying a resurgence amongst men. Often such situations can be viewed as being a case of for better or for worse, but in this case the rise in popularity of the shark tooth necklace is most definitely for the worst.

Apparently these necklaces hold a special allure for some men, thinking that they hold an irresistible attraction for women near and far. While it may come as surprising news to those who regularly wear these necklaces, they more often than not have a tendency to repel rather than attract potential partners.

Perhaps these men think shark tooth necklaces offer a natural charm, with a ‘man of the wild’, ‘conqueror of the ocean’ appeal, but they most certainly do not. Rather than these necklaces demonstrating the masculine strength of the wearer, they are often interpreted as being worn to make up for a shortfall of masculinity in some other area.

When worn out in public in an effort to maximise your romantic potential, you may notice the crowd part before you. This is not to be interpreted as people moving out of your way in awe of your power and beauty. Rather than people responding to your magnetism, they are in reality just trying to avoid you and your questionable taste in jewellery.

You may have heard tales or witnessed those wearing shark tooth necklaces having great success with attracting attention from many potential partners. Please don’t interpret this as meaning that it is the shark tooth necklace doing the attracting, there may be other factors in play. The wearer in these cases may win over partners despite the repellent qualities of the necklace itself. Check whether the subject in question is attractive, well dressed, personable, charming and confident. If so, you can almost guarantee that their potential romantic engagements are looking beyond the negative effects of the shark tooth necklace. Just imagine what success this person would enjoy in their romantic endeavours if they decided to hang up the necklace for good.

Even if a person was responsible for chasing a shark down and removing one of its teeth, there is no benefit to be gained from turning this tooth into a necklace pendant. What will garner you much more romantic attention is to show oceanic animals the respect they deserve and not take dentistry into your own hands.

As sad as it may be for some to admit, there is only one place where a shark tooth belongs, and that is in the ocean, in the mouth of a shark.

Beauty can sometimes be found in complexity, in intricate twists and turns, and hidden messages. In rarer, yet often more stunning fashion, true beauty can be found without so much effort…It simply exists. It shines in an indescribable way and with an unconcerned sense of self.

It is in looking at the true essence of something that we can learn so much about the world and our place within it. As the layers peel away to reveal the delicate inner core, there is a real sense of connection with something fundamental, something real.

Art in all its forms can reveal something pure and unashamedly unique, whether that be in print, image, dance or song. Elmore Leonard does this with words, Bill Callahan does this with song and Andrew Zuckerman does this with photography.

A recent addition to my ever expanding collection of photographic books is Andrew Zuckerman’s sublime ‘Creature’. Often animal photography swings between extremes – from sickly sweet and painstakingly posed, to stock standard portraiture that lacks in style and substance. Thankfully Zuckerman is a freakishly talented artist with the ability to transcend all such problems.

With each animal shot against a startling white background, the uncluttered, unpretentious photographs allow the viewer to enter into a visual dialogue and peer through a hidden window into the creature world. In inviting us into their world, Zuckerman lets the animals simply speak for themselves.

With his collection of subjects ranging from lions, to bears, elephants and leopards, this book is a visual feast for all animal lovers. The detail and clarity captured by Zuckerman is startling and inspirational, leaving the eyes hungry for more. He is everything I would ever want to be as a photographer.

If clean lines and pared back photographic imagery is your thing, then Creature is the book for you. Aside from Creature, Zuckerman does a lot of other pretty amazing things with his photography, so some time spent at his website is well worth the visit.

The sweet sensation of freedom is both a strange and wonderful thing. All at once it is exhilarating, liberating and motivating. Sometimes we don’t realise the ties that have bound us in place for so long. Sometimes we don’t realise that we may be capable of facilitating our own release. Nothing can prepare us for the lightness of spirit that comes after a crushing weight has been lifted from our shoulders.

Freedom can come in many forms, but always results in the same outcome. The gift of freedom provides us with the opportunity to escape from some sort of involuntary or unintended imprisonment. Our form of capture may be physical, mental, financial, lifestyle based or the result of a personal relationship. The detail of why we are imprisoned is not so important. Of much greater importance is the feeling that comes when the lock is opened and you walk out into the blinding sunshine and step out onto the green, green grass with a strong sense of relief. Has the sun ever felt so warm? Has has the grass ever felt so soft? I think not.

All animals, including humans were never meant to be held in captivity. Being a prisoner to something, someone, or someplace means that we are indebted in some way, that we have signed over some part of our personal power to another party. We are shackled indefinitely until we find the strength, the motivation or the key to our escape. Only then is our life our own.

As humans we are bombarded by those who are very interested in subjecting us to their control. With laws and policies the government pressures us, with temptations to borrow and invest the banks try to pin us down, with the need for money and the promise of a career our jobs lock us in, with responsibilities and loyalties our families can weigh heavily on us. We must focus on that day when we can walk softly and lightly on our feet once more.

Recently I watched a short documentary on the California Condor Recovery Program which aims to restore the critically endangered California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) to a naturally viable species. While it is believed that at one time thousands of these magnificent birds existed, since the late 1800s the species has been in significant decline and before the breeding season in 1983, only 22 birds remained.

Established in 1983, the Recovery Program has studied the reasons for the species decline and helped to bring the California Condor back from the brink of extinction. Condors were thought to have thrived during the Pleistocene with the abundance of mega fauna carcasses for the scavenging Condors to feed on. However the arrival of humans meant that the number of carcasses available to Condors significantly declined, forcing the birds to instead feed on seals and sea lions.

In the early 1800s, human hunting of seals and sea lions pushed the populations of marine mammals to the brink of extinction and therefore left little for the Condors to eat. Now one of the greatest hazards faced by Condors is that the main food they have to feed on – carcasses shot by hunters, are killed with lead bullets. In 1984 three out of four birds that were found dead, died of lead poisoning.

With the last remaining Condors facing certain extinction, it was time to take action. So in 1987, a desperate decision was made to trap the last remaining wild condors and take them all into captivity. With their future dependent on their ability to breed in captivity, it is fortunate that the breeding program has been such a great success. The Condor population has grown to almost 300 birds, with 128 having been released back into the wild. Given that lead is still in the environment, and that marine mammals can carry high level of DDT, there is still plenty to threaten the future population growth of Condors in the wild.

This documentary focussed on the release of Condor #79 from a life of captivity into this dangerous and highly unpredictable world. As I watched Condor #79 stand at the open door of her cage I couldn’t help but think that the way I feel today is how I imagine she must have felt just before she took flight for the very first time.

Freedom is a wonderful feeling and a basic right of all, however there can be a sense of loss that follows this revelation of a clear horizon. There is comfort that comes from accepting what you’ve always known, in knowing that there are no surprises coming your way. But then you find yourself free and suddenly the future is unwritten. There is a moment of caution, and perhaps even a feeling of terror. What do I do now? What will I come to know in this new world?

While I wait for exhilaration to overtake the fear, I take strength from Condor #79 and her flight to freedom. Not once did she look back over her shoulder towards her place of captivity. Instead she looked forward across the mountains, as she sailed far above the green, green grass.